COMMITTEE ON CERTIFICATION OF COURT INTERPRETERS (CCCI)
Report of February 1, 2001 Meeting
Tuan Jensen-Lech, Judicial Liaison, HITA
The Committee on Certification of Court Interpreters (CCCI) met on 1, Feb. 2001. Judge Mckenna, chair of the CCCI, presided.
1. Handouts: The following handouts were provided:
• Court interpreter registration packets
• National Center for State Courts Consortium for State Court Interpreter Certification ("Consortium")
• Consortium Member States and Test Bank Languages
• Consortium Member States' Certification Tests
• Letter from Mark Levin to this committee with a list of court interpretation related resources available at the University of Hawaii Law Library
2. RE-Registration results:
• Previous list dated 8-31-2000: 573 interpreters
• Total registered as of 12-31, 2000: 156
(returned by post/unable to locate:86)
2. Registration Process: Toby explained :
• Applicant fills out form, certifies that he/she:
• is authorizde to work in the US
• has a GET license
• has read policies for Interpreted Proceedings in the Courts of the state of HI
• Office on Equality Access to the Courts(OEAC) disseminates the statewide Master List of Court Interpreters to the courts.
3. Unregistered Interpreters:
Some courts are currently using unregistered interpreters .This is stated as a matter of fact. The committee was asked for ideas on how to get unregistered interpreters to register.
4. Recruitment:
• Press release twice a year via ethnic media/neighbor island ethnic org.
• Suggestion reg. placing a check box on courts' payment forms for interp. to indicate if he/she is currently registered.
• Recruiting from U. of Hawaii
• A project group to develop a recruitment plan was formed.
5. Screening Criteria:
Another project group was formed to work on screening criteria. Examples of criteria:
• Testing: policies, ethics, English proficiency (written &verbal), proficiency of other languages(written&verbal) and knowledge of legal terminology in English.
• Education and Training: whether to require a minimum level or diffrent credentials should be given different weight.
• Certification: what type to accept, and what weight to give different certifications
• Other: whether to have a policy for registrants with a criminal history.
6. National Center for State Courts-Consortium for State Court Interpreter Certification Annual Meeting in Tampa:
Toby attended the meeting. She reports:
• There are 25 member states. The Consortium began a Mentor program. Wahington State volunteered to be Hawaii's mentor state.
• Hawaii's greatest need is for Illocano. Reciprocity was briefly discussed and the Consortium as taken no stand on this issue.
• Future direction of the Consortium includes education programs, staff interpreter discipline, telephone interpreting.
7. Cultural Awareness Training:
Dew Kaneshiro reports on the training judges received: The goal is to build a written curriculum that can be shared with other jurisdiction.
8. Committee Member Terms:
One year term expires on July 9, 01; member will be asked if he/she would like to to considered for reappointment.
9. Next meeting is scheduled for June 7, 2001 at noon.